Reply to Complaint about Bad Workmanship

Dear Mr B

The damage you described in your letter of 7 July has now been inspected.

The faults in the wiring appear to have been caused by dripping water from the floor above. The electrical contractor, who put the wiring in in February, tells me that the wall was dry at the time he replaced the old wires. However, we will arrange for repairs to be made and seal off that section.

Durafloor is one of the most hardwearing materials of its kind on the market and we were surprised to hear that it had worn away within six months, so we made a close inspection. We noticed that the floor had been cut into and this seems to have been the result of dragging heavy metal boxes across it. The one-year guarantee we offer on our workmanship is against 'normal wear and tear', and the treatment the floor appears to have been subjected to does not come into this category. I am quite willing to arrange for the surface to be replaced, but we will have to charge you for the materials and work involved. If I may, I would like to suggest that you instruct your staff to use trolleys when shifting heavy containers.

I am sorry about the inconvenience you have experienced and will tell the fitters to repair the damage as soon as I have your confirmation that they can begin work.

The floor repairs should not come to more than £890 and the work can be completed in less than a day. Perhaps you could ring me to arrange for a convenient time for the work to be carried out?

Assignments

I. Suggest the Ukrainian equivalents of the phrases below:

dripping water; contractor; to put the wiring in; to replace the old wires; we will arrange for repairs to be made; to seal off the section; hardwearing materials; we were surprised to hear; to wear away; the floor had been cut into; to drag; one-year guarantee; workmanship; wear and tear; the treatment the floor appears to have been subjected to; I am willing to arrange for the surface to be replaced; to charge smb. for smth.; trolley; to shift heavy containers; I am sorry about the inconvenience you have experienced; fitter; floor repairs; the work to be carried out; close inspection; fault.

II. Find English equivalents to the following words and phrases:

гарантія на один рік; виріб; якість роботи; те, як з підлогою поводилися; вибачте за незручність, завдану вам; я хочу домовитись про те, щоб поверхню (підлогу) замінили; призначити комусь плату за що-небудь; тягти (волочити); стиратися; ізолювати секцію; замінити старий дріт; вода, що стікає краплями; ретельний огляд; робота, яка має бути виконана; пересувати важкі контейнери; монтер; амортизація; підрядник; ремонт підлоги; візок; ми домовимося про ремонт; пошкодження/несправність; прокладати електричну проводку; міцні матеріали.

III. Answer the questions:

1. What does the supplier think caused the faulty wiring, and what does he intend to do about it?

2. What does he think caused the problem with the flooring, and what does he say he will do about it?

3. How does the customer suggest the damage to the floor can be avoided?

4. How long will the repairs to the floor take?

5. Which words in the letter have a similar meaning to the following?

a) looked at;

b) durable;

c) everyday use;

d) moving.

IV. Translate into English:

1. Я домовлюся про заміну підлоги, але ми змушені будемо призначити вам оплату за матеріали та роботу.

2. Проінструктуйте свій персонал про те, щоб вони користувалися візками для пересування важких контейнерів.

3. Те, як поводилися з підлогою, не підпадає під поняття нормальної амортизації.

4. Ми домовилися про ремонт пошкодженої проводки.